Not about they How's but about the whys

This book is about why you should breastfeed not really how to or schedule, or practical application. I love ina May's books, but this fell flat. The narrator used emphasis and pausing for effect poorly and did not pronounce clinical terms correctly. I learned a little but not anything that will make a difference for me.

5 people found this helpful

extremely comprehensive, but one thing wrong. ..

the bad:
there was one thing I didn't enjoy, the chapters are not labeled with titles so you're really left in the dark regarding which chapters discuss what topics, which makes it hard to reference back to specific information.


the good:
loved this book from beginning to end. the content was fantastic, and informative. This book serves a springboard from which to build a foundation when you're first starting out learning about breastfeeding. she touches on a lot of resources so you can further build and even offers very detailed guidance about latching and any arising concerns. i definitely recommend it to both new mom's & experienced moms.I would venture to even say dads should listen because there's a lot of useful information for them too. I just finished it but will need to go through it a few more times because it's just that jam packed with information.

4 people found this helpful

Uses Anecdotal Stories Rather Than Science

Would you try another book from Ina May Gaskin and/or Margaret Strom?

No, never

What do you think your next listen will be?

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

This book is one of the reasons why there is mom-shaming. From the very first chapter, the author goes into great depth how formula products and companies are horrible. I got this book to learn tricks and lessons on how to breastfeed, not to be convinced of the author's values and dislikes. Then the author gives anecdotal evidence that breast feeding must be good because there are adults that were breastfeed until age 4 and have wonderful memories of it. Really, that is what she calls evidence? Then the author portrays doctors as not knowing what to do, being rude to their patients and not being qualified to help nursing mothers. It was just another anecdotal story to so the author could try to prove her point about something and it was a ridiculous way of doing it. The last straw, when I stopped listening to the book all together, was when the author recommended that vaccines should not be given at birth and that the child can wait until 6 months of age. Are your kidding me????? The author provided no scientific based facts to back up her ridiculous claim and all the while putting infants at risk by her stupid anecdotal stories to try to back up her ridiculous ideas. Lets just say, I was infuriated at this point. I wish I had not spent the money on this book. I am shocked how many good reviews it got - kind of scary actually. I then bought "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and LOVE it. It discussed pros and cons of each way of feeding your child, it is not judgmental and it actually has real science behind it and how to breastfeed properly with tips and tricks. Don't waist your money or your credits on Ina May's book.

3 people found this helpful

Very pro-breastfeeding

Enjoyed learning about breastfeeding, showcasing all the benefits of breastfeeding and why it should be a practice to be brought back to the 21st century. Author stance is strongly against formula so may make some mother's feel bad if they do. We live in a world where we do not have the conditions necessary for breastfeeding and formula feeding might have to happen. I understand the author's efforts to bring the practices back to enable higher rates of breastfeeding, but might be unrealistic in this modern world we live in and may leave some mother's feeling guilty about bottle-feeding.

2 people found this helpful

Formula Shaming!

Within the first ten minutes of this book, I heard all the repulsive negatives of formula feeding. Now coming from a family that has never been able to breastfeed successfully, this content was absolutely harassment. As a soon to be mother, I figured I would give it my best try to breastfeed my child so I purchased this book hoping to find some insight on how to start and what to do. As I said before, only ten minutes in, I felt that the book was only here to bash the giant population that could not breastfeed. I am no longer interested in anything this author has to say because I feel that she relaying the message to be very one sided. Would NOT RECOMMEND!

1 person found this helpful

A goldmine of info

Comprehensive. After listening I also bought this book to be able to quickly reference specifics in the chapters.

1 person found this helpful

A Must Read

this was incredible book for not only current or expectant mothers but women of all ages as well as any medical professional or curious interested party. Great information on breastfeeding.

formula shaming don't waste your time. one sided.

I wanted to attempt to breastfeed my second as after having my first I was physically and mentally unable to. first line in the book was breast is best then followed by the harms of formula feeding your child. my son turned out great and without formula he wouldn't have been eating or I would have been even more mentally unstable. don't waste your time find a different book. maybe one that isn't so one sided.

Would be good for a newbie

I got this book because I love Ina May’s other books and I have had some difficulty in maintaining milk supply with previous babies. There wasn’t really anything I hadn’t heard before. So, this is probably a good book for a first time mom, it had little value for me.

Not focused on being a General Breastfeeding Guide

I enjoyed Ina May's Guide to Child Birth so much I only thought it fitting to listen to her Guide to Breastfeeding. I was unfortunately disappointed though. I have always known I wanted to breastfeed my child and I felt the book more tried to talk me into breastfeeding and about women's rights than an actual guide to learn breastfeeding from. I am all for woman's rights and breastfeeding, I was just disappointed to have to sift through the entire book to find only the small relevant information I was looking for.